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Read MoreAccuracy
You wake at precisely 6:47 a.m., as you always do. You lift the bedclothes and fold them over at a precise 40 degree angle, as always, swing your feet to the floor, and stand with your weight balanced precisely along your central axis, stay in this position for 3 seconds, and step briskly— No you don’t. As a human being, you don’t have that kind of accuracy at your disposal. Even in a...
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Read MoreTraining
Manufacturers in the United States have been facing some significant challenges finding qualified machine operators. Increasing automation reduces the total number of human workers needed to operate a machine, but increases the skills needed by the operators. Ideally, increased productivity leads to greater opportunities and eventually a larger human workforce. But the Americans who know how to run...
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Read MoreRobots and Animals
Robots are often designed using inspiration from animals: how an octopus can move into small spaces, how a kangaroo gathers force for a jump, and how a bird maneuvers with small tucks of its wings have all inspired robots that can perform specialized tasks needed in manufacturing, medicine, or the military. People sometimes treat robots like animals, too, responding to their behaviors as we do to the...
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Read MoreIndustry 4.0
Industry 4.0, smart factories, the Industrial Internet of Things… whatever you choose to call it, it’s certain that manufacturing is changing in extremely significant ways right now. We can’t resist those changes or ignore them. They’re coming whether we want them in our facilities or not. They will change work and the pace of progress for early adopters, and they will change the...
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Read MoreWho Should Do Your Repairs?
When a machine fails, what do you do? In some facilities, high-priced engineers are called in to do troubleshooting and repairs on the machine. These are the guys who know this particular machine inside out and backwards, and over the decades they’ve been working in the factory they’ve perfected their knowledge and can get you back up and running fast. Or that’s how it used to be. Now...
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Read MoreManaging Engineers = Herding Cats?
Predictions about the future of manufacturing are downright whimsical nowadays, but one we keep hearing is that there will be no more factory workers. Instead of hundreds of factory hands working on the line, a modern factory will have eight engineers communicating deeply with IIoT machinery in cool, quiet rooms. If this comes about, it will be a big change for plant managers. Right now, engineers can be...
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Read MoreIndustrial Safety
Industrial machinery can be dangerous — there’s no disputing that. And one of the most important current trends in robotics is increasing awareness of safety issues. From robots designed to be safer for collaborating humans to a new class of safety warning error codes, many of the technological improvements in industrial engineering focus on keeping people safe. Some of the impressive safety...
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Read MoreJobs and Automation
Automation has clear advantages: Actions can be taken by machines faster and more accurately by human beings. Human workers are shielded from harsh working environments, toxic materials, and physically demanding tasks. Automated work is often more cost-effective than hiring multiple human workers, with their added costs and working conditions demands. Sounds a lot like machines are better than people,...
Motion Control
- Four New Motion Control Products
These new products will increase accuracy and efficiency in your ... read more - Device Electrifies Pneumatic Actuators
The ERDP Remote Drive from PHD Inc. electrically powers pneumatic ... read more - Spherical Air Bearings Aid Testing of Satellites
Spherical air bearing systems are commonly used to test the ... read more
Automation
- Video: Comparison: NETA Standard for Electrical Co...
Learning Objectives: Defining electrical commissioning. Identified application for select standards ... read more - Designing lighting control for the life sciences s...
Learning Objectives Understand the differences in ... read more - The M&A World through the Eyes of Buyers and S...Last week, we heard from Morrissey Goodale’s Brendon Cussio about what sellers ... read more
SERVICES
Most Recent Articles
Accuracy
You wake at precisely 6:47 a.m., as you always do. You lift the bedclothes and...
Read More
Robots and Animals
Robots are often designed using inspiration from animals: how an octopus can...
Read More
Who Should Do Your Repairs?
When a machine fails, what do you do? In some facilities, high-priced...
Read More
Managing Engineers = Herding Cats?
Predictions about the future of manufacturing are downright whimsical...
Read More
Indramat
- Manufacturing’s Ups and Downs
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg raised some eyebrows when he claimed ... read more - 4NE-1 Household RobotHere it is, the household robot for any one! Or, ... read more
- Rexroth Nutrunner VulnerabilitiesSecurity researchers use their cybersecurity skills to find vulnerabilities in ... read more
Industry
- Big intelligence for small drives
IndraDrive Cs ADVANCED with sercos master and multi-Ethernet interfaces Machine ... read more - Upgraded Rexroth MLC Version 13 Motion Logic and C...The Rexroth MLC motion logic controller with Version 13 firmware ... read more
- Simply Safe ApplicationsThe growth in use and complexity of automation across industries ... read more
Plant Management
- Taking a dynamic approach to safetyLearning Objectives Trustworthiness within the collaborative ... read more
- Improving asset, materials management with ERP sys...
- How the control engineering profession helps susta...
Learning Objectives Shell in the petrochemical ... read more
Sensors
- Taking a dynamic approach to safetyLearning Objectives Trustworthiness within the collaborative ... read more
- Improving asset, materials management with ERP sys...
- How the control engineering profession helps susta...Learning Objectives Shell in the petrochemical ... read more
